The vision of the Faith C. Ai Memorial
Scholarship Fund is"to help present and future teachers fulfill
their quest for excellence as educators, becausededicated and knowledgeable
teachers everywhere play an essential role in the development of
youth by imparting knowledge and instilling positive values in their
students who will become, in turn, educated and responsible
members of communities throughout the world."About Faith C. Ai (1915 to
1997)Faith, a
product of Hawaii's public schools and the University of Hawaii, had a
long and distinguished career as a teacher, administrator, and community
volunteer. She made significant contributions to public education in
Hawaii through her work, as an elementary school teacher in Special
Education; as the Vice-Principal at two Oahu elementary schools; and, from
1964 until her retirement in 1980, as the Principal of Abraham Lincoln
Elementary School in Honolulu. During her tenure, the enrollment grew to
over 1,000 students. “Lincoln Elementary”
developed a reputation for having outstanding teachers, and for its numerous,
diverse extracurricular activities which provided enrichment of the students’ educational
and cultural experiences.

Faith was known for her dedication to improving the
education available to Hawaii’s youth, as well as that of children
everywhere. She had a straightforward manner, a sense of humor,
and an enthusiastic appreciation for creativity, learning, and
travel. A lifetime of experiences fostered her belief that one
is enriched by growing beyond the confines of one's own country, culture,
and religion. Faith's extensive travels enabled her to visit many countries,
where she learned about different cultures and arts. She maintained that
travelling is the best form of "continuing education" because it can
expand and improve our cultural sensitivity, our appreciation for diversity,
and our awareness of global issues.

Faith further believed that we should “give back”
to our and to other communities, because in doing so, we provide
important role models and legacies for future generations of children
everywhere. After retiring, she devoted herself to community service and
became a tireless volunteer in numerous professional and non-profit
organizations.

Since Faith's death in 1997, three types of
scholarships in her memory have been established. First, from 1997 to 2012, thanks to Kathleen K.
Ai, who inspired the establishment of scholarships, and
thanks to the help of the Hawaii Education Association's Executive Director, Carol Yoneshige, and staff, Cynthia and Ron funded and awarded 40
scholarships to undergraduate students majoring in Education. Second, in
2012, they established scholarships in Faith's name at Cynthia's alma
mater, the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, where 4 or more
grants are provided annually to graduate students from the United States, Asia,
and the Pacific Islands who ultimately intend to teach. As of 2014, 13 of these East-West Center grants
have been awarded.The Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund, established in 2014, offers the third type of scholarships for current and future educators. This scholarship fund was established thanks to a generous bequest from Faith's longtime friend, George H. Wong, of San Francisco, California. In 2014, the first 11 of these scholarships were awarded.

About George Hu Wong (1921 to 2011)George was born in China in 1921 and, with his
father, immigrated to San Francisco, California, at the age of nine. Despite many hardships,
frustrations, and poverty, George’s intelligence, excellence in mathematics and
sciences, and work ethic were qualities soon recognized by his
teachers. He graduated from a high school renown for mathematics and
sciences, where he excelled in his studies and also became the editor of the
school yearbook. After high school, George was drafted into the
U.S. Army. As a soldier in World War II, he served as an interpreter
in China, India, and the United States. After receiving an honorable
discharge, George enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, where
the "G.I. Bill” provided help with his tuition. While he attended university,
he also had several part-time jobs in San Francisco’s Chinatown to support his
father and himself.

George became a certified public accountant (CPA)
and was the first American of Asian descent to be employed in that capacity by
a major international oil company. George specialized in audits
and was given assignments abroad which took him to many European countries,
where he developed an appreciation for Italian and French cuisines, wines,
and opera. He was also fond of smooth cognacs and aromatic cigars, which
he taught Cynthia to appreciate.

Despite a cerebral aneurysm at the age of 52,
which resulted in a paralysis of the left side of his body,
George continued to work and to enjoy a productive and happy
life. Ronald L. Embry, M.D., and his wife, Cynthia, cared for George for
several decades and were with him when he peacefully passed away at the age of
90.

The Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund is the legacy of life-long friendships between George H. Wong of San Francisco, California, and three generations of women in Hawaii: Mrs. Leen Jun Siu; her daughter, Faith C. Ai; and her grand-daughter, Cynthia Ai. When Cynthia was very young, "Uncle George" served as her babysitter when Faith was taking advanced education courses during summers in San Francisco. During the ensuing 60 years, George and Cynthia maintained a close relationship which came to include Cynthia's husband, Ronald L. Embry, M.D. George knew about the scholarships which Cynthia and Ron had previously established, and he wished to honor Faith's memory by providing a generous bequest to create and to fund these scholarships.

The Board of the Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships of $5,000 each to qualifying undergraduates students majoring in Education; to graduate students in any field, as long as they intend to teach; and to certified educators who are pursuing graduate degrees. In 2014, the Faith C. Ai Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded eleven (11) scholarships.